Ear to the ground

“Only in a place like Beaver Creek could you have a subdivision called Bachelor Gulch.”

– A Durango woman commenting on a historic imbalance faced by small ski towns everywhere

Power up the tower

Durangoans can help juice up the airwaves this weekend. KDUR public radio is in the final phases of boosting its signal, and Fort Lewis students, faculty and staff can benefit the station by skiing at Durango Mountain Resort’s College Day this Sunday.

In early December, a 110-foot tower was set in place high over Durango on the college rim and promised to boost KDUR’s signal from its measly 150 watts to an all-powerful 6,000-watt capacity. Though the “erection” received a great deal of media coverage, it actually came up a little short. KDUR still needs to install transmission equipment and run electricity to the site before the boost goes into effect.

The tower’s appearance did create a curious placebo effect in the Durango area. The station has received dozens of calls from people praising the new and improved signal. However, comments like “I’m getting KDUR on the other side of Hesperus” are fueled by positive thinking rather than any real increase in power.

Fort Lewis College can help KDUR power up the tower this Sunday. DMR is hosting the second of our College Days on Jan. 24, and a portion of each ticket sold will go to defraying KDUR’s expenses related to the power increase project. FLC students, staff and faculty (we repeat – students, faculty and staff) can ski for just $29 on what promises to be one of the best days of the season. KDUR will also be on the mountain and at the beach with a live remote from 1-3 p.m.

Pies for posterity

The local electorate has a chance to get even next week. The Coconut Cream City Council is offering an opportunity for Durangoans to pie their city councilors and raise funds for the Animas Museum.

As part of its ongoing budget woes, the City of Durango cut the Animas Museum’s allocation by 73 percent, and the museum’s operations are now in jeopardy. However, Durango city councilors agreed to help make up the deficit in another way – taking pies for the nonprofit. Michael Rendon, Christina Thompson and Paul Broderick will all be creamed on Jan. 30 at the Snowdown Chili Cookoff.

While the pies are not cheap – $1,000 gets a Durangoan a pie and a choice of recipient – the funds go toward keeping the museum’s doors open and keeping history alive in Durango. Donations can be made at www.animasmuseum.org, in person at the museum, or by mail to P.O. Box 3384, Durango, CO 81302.